Her name is Eniolahun Olakunle, and unlike her brother and sister she does not have the ease of an English middle name like Peter, or Phoebe, so everyone just calls her Enny. Some would say that this name is easy enough in itself. However, it was a name that highlighted her difference much longer than her thick Nigerian accent did. It was a name that she would have gladly given up. So then when given that exact chance on March, 12 2015, why didn’t she? It was a normal Thursday morning so no specific details stuck in her mind, but she does remember that it was a chilly day, so she was wearing a red sweater over jeans and a tie dye shirt. She also remembers that her mom had been teaching her some traditional Yoruba songs, which she had been religiously …show more content…
writing down on her phone. Eventually, when they arrived at their destination her legs sprang out of the car and dragged her sluggish body towards the door. At that point she stopped and fixed her hair which had been blown around by the wind. Walking in, the first thing she noticed was the long line of people who were trying to send things to their loved ones. Impatiently, she joined the line and after what seemed like a lifetime, she was finally being attended to. Nervously, she told the woman in front of her that she was there for an American passport application. Bored, and a little irritated, the woman directed Enny and her mom towards another lady who then took them to a room in the back. “Do you have a passport photo with you?” She asked them, but the look of surprise on both Enny and her mom’s face was enough of a response for her. They had not known that they needed one. Apprehensively, Enny’s mom asked if they had to go all the way back home to get one, and the woman politely replied, “No.” She told them that Enny could just get her photograph taken right there for an extra cost of 20 dollars. After her passport picture was taken, Enny was given her application to fill out. First Name: Eniolahun. Last Name: Olakunle. Middle Name: Olaoluwa. Information after information she placed down, and the ones that she did not know she asked her mom. Afterwards, she submitted her application and was ready to leave, but then the lady called her back. Apparently, there were some discrepancies between the name on the application, and the name they already had on file. Instead of Eniolahun, they had Eniola, which is just the short hand of the full name. Therefore, she was told that her legal name was Eniola, but she could change it if she wanted to. “I can change my name to anything I want?” Enny wondered aloud. However, the lady explained that because Enny was just 16, she would need her parents’ signatures, and a school record that supported the use of the name she chose. In other words, she could either re-inforce her name as Eniolahun, leave it as Eniola, or take the chance that she had been looking for, and become Eunice. It was all planned out in her head. In that split second, she thought of how she could convince her parents to let her start going by Eunice at school. She would then tell her friends that she did not go by Enny anymore. “That would be the easiest part of this transition”, she thought, as she remembered that her friend Javier had successfully changed his name to Guy. Of course, she would have to wait a year or two, but the fact that she could change that name made her happy. Less than a week later, her dad told her that she had mail from the National Passport Information Center (NPIC). Excitedly, she opened the letter, and found what she was expecting; the name changing forms. Seeing them, her dad, not knowing her plans, told her not to bother about changing the name since it was a short hand of her full name. Smiling to herself, she told him not to worry just yet. Then going into her room she started filling out the form, only for her to stop at the column, “New Name.” All her life, she had been called Enny, Eniola, or Eniolahun. Not once was she called Eunice. Yes, it would make her integration better at school, and she would not have to worry about blending in. However, this name was part of her identity. No one, not even people from her west Nigerian descent have the name. There are bounteous people called Enny, or Eniola, but none called Eniolahun. It was her identity, and at that point she realized that she was not ready to give that up. To better understand the enormity of her not changing her name when she could have, one should look back at the effect her name had on her integration into the American system. Imagine being promised that being uprooted from a life that one has known was a good thing. Imagine being told about a golden reward at the end of a plane ride six hours away from home. Now imagine the disappointment and dismay that such a child would experience as soon she realizes that these promises were nothing more than adult fantasies. As a young immigrant, unfortunately, one of Enny’s first interactions with her new society was a stranger asking her, “Did you shower before you came in here, or do Africans not understand what that is?” Even though she had been prepared to step through the pearly gates of heaven on earth, she was surprised to find herself in an environment that did not appreciate diversity at all.
"Freak," she can recall them saying. "Kunta Kinte," they would whisper! Even though Enny was a name that was easy enough in itself, it seemed like her new classmates found their alternatives better. Everywhere she turned, it seemed like there was an ongoing joke that she was not allowed to be a part of. The first couple of weeks, she would cower and wait for the ringing laughter as soon as the teacher mispronounces her name for roll call. After six years, she finally earned it. She was now a typical American teenager. She was even what you would consider a “popular kid”. She had her friends, and her thick accent was not so thick anymore, even if it was not gone. However, there was still one thing that separated her from the rest of her group, and every time she introduced herself to a new person she knew that. “It’s Enny, as in anything,” she would
say. “Oh cool, where is that from?” they would reply. Now here she was with the opportunity to change that interaction forever, but instead she chose to make her legal name Eniolahun. As her dad signed the forms to enable this process, she knew that she had made the right choice. At least this way, she would always be able to find her way back home.
She has never had to experience the idea of fitting in with her own culture. Being American is simply natural and a way of life for her. Traveling to another country, especially to one that was nothing like she expected it to be, helped to her stumble upon some important insights. She states being away from her own culture did not change her but made her able to realize what values and habits were the most important to her. In the other story, author Patricia was of Korean descent, but was born and raised here in America. Due to her Korean descent Patricia never really knew for sure where she belonged. She used a name to describe it, “hyphenated Americans,” because she looks like she is from another country but was born and raised here. People right on the streets of New York will ask her where she is from and compliment her on her good English skills. This makes it difficult to truly identify as an American. To really know what values and habits are her own. Traveling to Korea, visiting what they have called her homeland, taught Patricia some important insights of her own.
...he class barriers that exist in society and the differences between these different groups. She comes to see the differences and the similarities between her life and that of the two boys.
Now I wished that I could pen a letter to my school to be read at the opening assembly that would tell them how wrong we had all been. You should see Zachary Taylor, I’d say.” Lily is realizing now that beauty comes in all colors. She is also again being exposed to the fact that her way of being raised was wrong, that years and years of history was false. “The whole time we worked, I marveled at how mixed up people got when it came to love.
When she arrived, Emily was remembered and accepted. She laughed more, made friends with people young and old and felt happy for the first time in years. It was also in Ucluelet tha...
The author explains different situations she has been exposed to throughout her life. The main factor that differentiates her case from the others is her level of education. She has been educated and has been exposed to two different cultures. Due to these factors, she knows how to behave under different circumstances. A good example is when a drunk man offended her and she reacted by walking away instead of creating a big discussion. Maria’s friend complemented her for the cool handling of the situation. Another reason why she feels so proud of herself is because she took advantage of that education chance and does everything possible to keep growing up. She explains that sometimes she is sent to that “kitchen” where she belongs. Her genes will follow her everywhere and not matter where she is at, people will keep asking her where is she from.
From the outset of the story there is an overwhelming sense of hope that has enveloped the entire community and school with the upcoming graduation. The communitie's involvement strengthens the authors excitement in her rite of passage. Everyone is preparing for the ceremony and seeking to see how it will affect the lives of those involved. "Only a small percentage would be continuing on to college" (835) and others were just excited for the "glorious release" (834) from school. She felt like she was on top of the world, after all, "the graduating classes themselves were the nobility" (834). It is obvious how much pride she takes in her community by the way she describes her class as "an extended family." (834). The author's school was not the most impressive school compared to the white schools in the area but that could not damper the spirit that was filling the air. Parents who were buying or making new outfits for their graduates made everyone including the author the center of attention. Her "momma launched out on [hers]," (835) and she was swollen with pride that she was going to be a walking mod...
Bonnie had a childhood that alluded to eventual greatness. Bonnie was known by everyone as being beautiful and adorable (Rosenberg). Some of her early interests included romance novels, writing, and drama (Rosa). She was an honor student, and was always winning prizes for her essays, spelling, and public speaking (Fortune 49). One of her most notable victories was when she won Cement City’s Spelling Bee championship (Rosa). When she was younger, at her school in Cement City, Bonnie’s class had someone come to teach them elocution once a week. Bonnie was obsessed with that class. Her classroom performance was excellent, and the teacher liked her to the extent that she even got permission to occasionally bring Bonnie to spend the night with...
The first time Kingston had to speak English in kindergarten was the moment silence infiltrated her world. Simple dialogue such as “hello” or asking for directions was hell for her because people usually couldn’t hear her the first time she asked, and her voice became weaker every time she tried to repeat the question (422). No matter what, speaking English just shattered her self-esteem.
After spending years at the same school, there is no doubt that you will change from the beginning to the end. Joy not only had a change in maturity, but in work ethic as well. Balancing life and school is always difficult, which she understood, as a young actress Joy recalls “thinking that acting
As Anne grew older, she was pretty and popular with the boys. However, her performance in school was lacking in m...
Before collage, Toni went to all integrated schools. In elementary school, Toni was the only person in her class that could read (2). Because she attended all intergraded schools, she was friends with many of her white school mates and didn’t encounter discrimination until she started dating (1). She was very dedicated to her...
Some people are excellent friends due to their humour and generosity. Others may be admired by their perseverance and organization skills. However, a person is not capable of holding all traits, which is what makes each and every one of us unique and our own ways. Bonny’s personality may not be perfect, but those three personality traits were definitely revealed through her actions. Although she is still only a teenager, she exemplifies the sense of being independent, imaginative, and a reliable individual. Throughout the pervious experiences, she was able to undergo changes and improve herself. This final act is what qualifies Bonny as a truly interesting individual and what makes her special from others.
... up. She has friends. She does things she would have never have been able to do at home. Now she’s going to go to college. There’s a future for her.”